title: Assessment of laboratory logistics management information system practice for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis laboratory commodities in selected public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Logistics management information system for health commodities remained poorly implemented in most of developing countries. To assess the status of laboratory logistics management information system for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis laboratory commodities in public health facilities in Addis Ababa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from September 2010-January 2011 at selected public health facilities. A stratified random sampling method was used to include a total of 43 facilities which, were investigated through quantitative methods using structured questionnaires interviews. Focus group discussion with the designated supply chain managers and key informant interviews were conducted for the qualitative method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There exists a well-designed logistics system for laboratory commodities with trained pharmacy personnel, distributed standard LMIS formats and established inventory control procedures. However, majority of laboratory professionals were not trained in LMIS. Majority of the facilities (60.5%) were stocked out for at least one ART monitoring and TB laboratory reagents and the highest stock out rate was for chemistry reagents. Expired ART monitoring laboratory commodities were found in 25 (73.5%) of facilities. Fifty percent (50%) of the assessed hospitals and 54% of health centers were currently using stock/bin cards for all HIV/AIDS and TB laboratory commodities in main pharmacy store, among these only 25% and 20.8% of them were updated with accurate information matching with the physical count done at the time of visit for hospitals and health centers respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even though there exists a well designed laboratory LMIS, keeping quality stock/bin cards and LMIS reports were very low. Key ART monitoring laboratory commodities were stock out at many facilities at the day of visit and during the past six months. Based on findings, training of laboratory personnel's managing laboratory commodities and keeping accurate inventory control procedures were recommended.
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Ethopia.
authors.forename: Adino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desale
authors.forename: Bineyam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taye
authors.forename: Getachew
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belay
authors.forename: Alemayehu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nigatu
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005002:Ethiopia; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006268:Health Facilities; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D059232:Laboratory Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration; D015980:Public Health Practice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: Logistics management information system; laboratory commodities; stock outs